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9/2/110/0008

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27167

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Old Drostdy, Somerset Street, Worcester

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Anonymous

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Post date: 07/08/2012
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Archive Import
History: For a century the “Land of Waveren” formed a part of the district of Stellenbosch, until Commissioner De Mist cut off all the territory north of the Breede River and proclaimed it as a separate district. The name of Roodezand was changed to Tulbagh which became the seat of the magistracy and a fine drostdy was built there. This building with its impressive gateway was not to serve as the home of the landdrost for long. In 1819 Worcester became a sub-drostdy of Tulbagh. In 1822 it was raised to the status of a full drostdy through the efforts of the landdrost Charles Trappes himself and the landdrost’s headquarters were transferred there. The Tulbagh drostdy was sold to a young farmer called Heatlie and can still be seen on the road that leads up the valley beyond Tulbagh.
The building of the Worcester Drostdy was started in 1823. It was to consist of a whole complex of buildings —a magistrate’s court, a residency, an office building, houses for the secretary and clerk, and a gaol. The amount provided for the work was 100 000 riksdaalders and the plans were drawn by the inspector of government buildings, W. C. Jones. The magistrate, Trappes, took it upon himself to supervise the work although he was totally unqualified to do so. He did not obtain proper specifications, neither did he call for tenders, with the result that he ‘s a great deal of money. Yellow-wood beams were brought by ox-wagons from Knysna, but Trappes ordered far too many of them, so that a large part of the consignment had to be sold at a loss in Wor cester. Many of these beams, distinguishable by their great size, can still be seen in old houses in Worcester. Consequently the government was obliged to appoint a certain Samuel Hemming as supervisor. He soon became involved in a violent quarrel with Trappes whom he accused of constantly changing his plans. In spite of this the drostdy was ready for occupation in August, 1825, but the money voted had been exhausted, so the floor of the south wing could not be put in, and of the other buildings that had been planned, only the gaol could be built—and that in the cheapest possible manner.

After the Anglo-Boer War the Dutch Reformed Church bought the building from the government for R20 000, conipleted the floor of the south wing and used it as a training college for young men, especially those that had taken part in the war. In 1911 the Synod of the Church converted it into a school of industries. In 1926 the government again took it over and developed it into the Drostdy Technical High School.
Visual Description: The drostdy was the largest and most dignified building of its kind. It was built in the shape of a U, with two wings running back and enclosing an inner court.
The style is described by Dr. Mary Cook as Cape-Georgian. “It shows,” she writes, “most of the characteristic and beautiful characteristics of English Georgian style—symmetry, carefully balanced design and the achievement of effect by good lines rather than ornamentation. The neo-classical colonnade over the front door, the arches on either side and the parapet on top are all typical Enghsh Georgian features. On the other hand the building departs from this style in having a basement floor, in being single-storeyed, plastered, whitewashed and in having a thatched roof. It was sur rounded by a fine garden.”
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Construction Date: 1823-1825
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